Jump Start # 1427

1 Samuel 2:12 “Now the sons of Eli were worthless men; they did n0t know the Lord”

The other day I used a passage in a sermon about “worthless.” James referred to “worthless” religion. I got to thinking about that word. So, this week we are going on a journey looking at what God declares “worthless.” Most of us have another word for worthless, it’s junk. A parent may say to their teenager, “get rid of all this junk in your room.” They, by saying that, are not implying that the teenager toss the mattress out the window. That is not junk. The junk is all the papers, all the cups, all the trash and all the clutter that has filled every available space in the room. Junk.

It is interesting how many times in the Old Testament, the text refers to “worthless” people. In Deuteronomy, Judges, Joshua, Samuel—specific people are called by Heaven “worthless.” Now that doesn’t strike well with some of us. I can hear someone saying, “We shouldn’t call anyone worthless. They may have made bad choices but there is still good in them. Everyone has some value.” God considered some to be worthless. Those are God’s words. This is how God sees them. Some hired “worthless” men to stir up trouble or to try to change the public thought of a city. Worthless men could influence others to do wrong.

Our verse today describes Eli’s sons, priests, as worthless. Eli’s sons misused the sacrifices for their own advantage. They were immoral and they had closed their ears to the pleas of Eli, their father.

Another known “worthless” man is Nabal, the husband of Abigail. She even calls her husband, “Worthless” (1 Sam 25:25). Nabal’s flocks had been protected by David’s men. When they asked for some provisions, Nabal insulted them and David. Nabal’s own servant said of his master, “he is such a worthless man that no one can speak to him.” David joined his troops and were ready to wipe Nabal off the face of the earth, until Abigail interceded and prevented bloodshed.  A worthless man. One wonders why Abigail married him unless it was arranged by parents.

Proverbs tells us that a worthless man speaks with a perverse mouth (6:12). Later in Proverbs, “A worthless man digs up evil while his words are like scorching fire” (16:27).

What we find is that God considers someone who is empty of godliness, who does evil and who is set on influencing others in a bad way as “worthless.” They are worse than doing nothing, they are doing wrong, and taking others with them. Their value is zero. God created them to glorify Him. God made them to help others. God made them, as He did all of us, to walk in His ways. They have refused. They are worthless.

One can’t help but wonder who God might consider as “worthless” today. It might shock us. The list might include some very famous, and extremely wealthy people. It might include some that we admire. We value them, but Heaven sees them as being worthless.

The opposite of worthless is valuable, value. And that is a good measurement for us to consider when we are making choices today. What value is there in a song, a movie, a friendship, a blog, a book? If those things encourage us to step away from God, if they take us to a place we do not belong, are they of any value? Are they not worthless? Worthless books—not based upon market value but spiritual quality. Worthless songs…worthless movies…worthless blogs…worthless friends—the influence is spiritually harmful and destructive. They leave us in a worse place. They put things in our minds that are hard to get out. They run our soul through the mud.

It’s hard for some to see that. It’s harder still for younger folks to see that. Parents need to help. But parents must be able to recognize the value or lack of value in these things. Someone goes to a movie and they report back with glowing reviews. It’s incredible. It’s great. You have to go see it. Then, almost apologizing, they admit, “there are just a few bad words.” How many are a few? A dozen? That’s not too bad, some think. Yet, if you had a person in your house and within two hours he cussed a dozen times, he’d most likely be led out of the house. If a salesman used that language, I’d walk away. But in a movie, oh, a movie, it’s different. And for young ears, those words get branded in their brains. Later on, among friends first, one of those words comes out. They never talked that way before. What happened? Worthless people, through a film, influenced them.

Now, the opposite of worthless people is valuable people. People of value. This has nothing to do with bank accounts, stocks or the size of their homes. It does, however, have everything to do with the size of their hearts. People of value, will value God’s things. They honor the Lord with their lips. They respect the ways of the Lord in worship. They treasure deep discussions about God and His ways. Good to the core are these folks. These are the ones that bring the food, come to the funeral home, sit with you in the waiting room, pray for you, be there for you and encourage you to do what is right. These are the ones who are quick to say, “Can we pray about this?” These are the ones who leave you feeling better and stronger spiritually. These are the ones that remind you of the goodness of God. You won’t find these people in the movies. Hollywood thinks that their lives are boring. You won’t hear people talking about these people at work, at least not in a positive way. But at the end of the day, it is the people of value that will be there for you. They will help you. They will make you do better.

Valuable people—have you surrounded yourself with them? Do you name them among your dearest friends? Do you listen to what they say? Are you such a person for others?

Eli’s sons were worthless. Nabal was worthless. A person doesn’t just get that way, nor are they born that way. They become worthless when they walk away from the Lord. Parenting, friends and influences are the factors that lead us to value or worthlessness. This is something parents today must think about. So your son can throw a football forty yards and hit a mark dead on, that’s impressive, but if he lives and dies with out the Lord, he has lost all value.

Worthless or valuable…it’s based upon our choices with the Lord.

Tomorrow, we will consider more of this journey.

Roger